Toy mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is provided for use in toys and games together with a method for power driving or propelling the toy. An inertia wheel is supported for rotation and engages a playing member for driving or propelling same across a surface. In one form, the inertia wheel is accelerated to rotate about a vertical axis and strike playing pieces. In another form, the inertia wheel rotates about a horizontal axis and engages playing pieces or an inertia wheel of a toy vehicle which it accelerates to drive the vehicle.

United States Patent Lemelson July 22, 1975 [54] my MECHANISM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Jerome Lemelson, 35 Rector 5% 1.074467 H1960 Germany a. 46/209 Metuchen. NJ. 08840 32 Filed; Man 7 1973 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting [21] Appl No.: 338,658

[57] ABSTRACT [52] 46/202; g f/ i gz A mechanism is provided for use in toys and games together with a method for power driving or propel- [5 I 1 3 Cl A63h 29/20 ling the toy. An inertia wheel is supported for rotation [58] Fleld of Search 46/202, 209. 206; and engages a playing member for driving or pmpel 273/119 R ling same across a surface. In one form, the inertia wheel is accelerated to rotate about a vertical axis and [56] References cled strike playing pieces. In another form, the inertia UNITED STATES PATENTS wheel rotates about a horizontal axis and engages l,560 496 11/1925 Bakketun 273/!19 R playing pieces or an inertia wheel of a toy vehicle 273L765 l/l956 Carver i e 46/209 which it accelerates to drive the vehicle. 3,471,963 l0/l969 Tomiyama 46/209 3,701,216 lO/l972 Smith H 46/206 9 Claims. 6 Drawing F igllres IIIZI rov MECHANISM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a toy apparatus and method for driving toys and games for periods of time varying from several seconds to more than a minute without the need for a complex motor. In particular. the drive mechanism and method for operating a mechanical toy provided herein employ the force of inertia which is either imparted directly to the toy or game or indirectly thereto by simple manual means.

Heretofore. it was common practice to rotationally operate various toys and games by means of a springwound motor or an electric motor powered by a battery or other source of electrical energy. These modes of toy and game operation have obvious disadvantages which include their need to be wound up or electrically operated from a battery or other source of energy. It is obvious that such toy and game driving arrangements are relatively complex and hence. costly to manufacture. Furthermore. many of these toys easily break down or malfunction shortly after they are purchased and are either relatively difficult or costly to operate.

Accordingly. it is a primary object of this invention to prmidc a new and improved mechanism and a method for power operating toys and games of various types without the need for manual winding of a key and complex gear trains or batteries.

Another object is to provide a mechanism and method for operating a toy or game wherein a substantial amount of potential energy may be imparted to the toy and stored therein in the form of inertia applied to a rotating wheel. which energy may be expended thereafter in a limited manner such that the toy or game will operate over an extended period of time.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method for imparting a substantial amount of rotational energy to a toy in a rapid manner whereby energy may be stored thereafter. without difficulty. and utilized. either directly or indirectly. to drive the toy or game.

Another object is to provide a simple. improved mechanism and method for driving a mechanical toy which does not require a conventional electric or wound-up motor but which employs a simple inertia wheel arrangement which is driven by a toothed plastic strip pulled by hand therefrom.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which is inertially operated and easily accelerated and is adapted to provide potential energy for driving a toy vehicle. not directly associated with said mechanism, by removably coupling the two mechanisms.

With the abmc and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully appear. the invention consists of the novel construction. combination and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein are show n embodiments ofthis invention. but it is to be understood that changes. variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view ofa portion ofa game board employing an inertially rotated ball deflecting device:

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a portion of a mechanism of the type shown in FIG. I:

FIG. 3 is an end view with parts broken away for clarity of a modified form of the game board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away for clarity of a modified form of the apparatus in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away for clarity of a raceway toy employing a mechanism which is a modified form of the types shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away for clarity of a raceway which is a modified form of that illustrated in FIG. 5.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a portion ofa game assembly 10 comprising a three-dimensional housing II supported above a surface and containing a playing surface I2 with sloped sidewalls 13 which divide the playing surface into two opposed sections 12a and 12h separated by a neck-down surface portion 121' at which is located a mechanism 14, having a rotatable paddle assembly including individual deflecting plates 16 which protrude above the upper surface 12. The mechanism 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a plurality of paddle blades 16 supported on a hub 17 which is secured to a shaft which extends through the hollow interior 1] of the game housing llu. The shaft I5 is secured near its lower end to the hub 20 of an inertial wheel 19. Secured near the upper end of shaft 15 is a toothed wheel 18 such as a pinion gear adjacent a U-shaped guide 27 fora flexible gear strip member 34 of the type illustrated in FIG. 2. When the end of the gear strip 34 is pushed through the passageway 29 defined by the U- shaped member 27. the teeth 37 of the strip portion 36 thereof engage the teeth I8T of wheel [8 so as to rotate shaft IS when the strip is pulled therethrough.

The shaft 15 is shown rotationally supported at three points which comprise the playing surface l2. one leg of the U-shaped member 27 which is supported on a frame 32 above the playing surface 12 and at its lower end by a ball bearing 2] supported on a hub 22 which is secured to the bottom wall 23 of the housing Ilu. Other structures may also be provided for rotationally supporting the shaft I5 and it is to be noted that the U- shaped guide 25 for the gear strip may also be supported within the housing Ila wherein access thereto is attained by means of a channel-shaped strip or tube extending from an opening in the sidewall 24 of the housing 11a to an outlet in alignment with the passageway 29 through the channel 25.

The playing surface I2 is shown shaped with a plurality of indentations I2 therein in which a ball B deflected by the blades 16 which rotate with hub I7 as a shaft I5 is rotated with the rotation of wheel I9. A pin 31 is shown supporting a plate extending from and supporting the U-shaped guide 25 and is secured at its lower end to playing surface I2.

In FIG. 2, notation 34 refers to a flexible gear strip having a head 35 and an elongated body 36 containing teeth 37 therein. The strip is shown engaging the teeth of gear I8 and the gear shaft 15 is rotatably supported on a bracket 25' supported by the sidewall of the housing llu.

In FIG. 4. a modified game assembly 10' is shown wherein the hub 20' of the inertia wheel 19' extends through an opening in the playing board surface I2 and supports also the blades 16' which are applied to strike the ball and drive it along the playing surface. The pinion gear 18 is secured to the upper end of hub 20' or integrally molded therewith and a shaft 38 extends completely through huh and gear 18 about which said gear and hub rotate. The lower end of shaft 38 is secured by the bottom wall 23 of the housing while the upper end is supported by one leg of a modified U- shaped guide 25' which is utilized to guide the gear strip past the teeth of gear I8.

In FIG. 5 is shown a modified game apparatus including housing 4] with a flat bottom wall 42 and circumscribing sidewalls 43 and having an upper wall 48 defining a playing surface containing guides 49 which define a trackway along which a toy vehicle 5] may travel. The wheels 53 of the vehicle are affixed to a shaft 52 which is rotatably supported by the sidewalls of the vehicle housing and contains an inertia wheel 54 supported at its center. The vehicle inertia wheel 54 has a peripheral surface which is roughened or made of frictional material and which is adapted to engage a wheel protruding upwardly through an opening 50 in the wall 48 between the guides 49 for the wheels of the vehicle. The wheel 45 is supported on a shaft 44 which also supports an inertia wheel 19 within and at the side of the housing 4]. a pinion gear 450 is secured to the end of shaft 44 and contains teeth which are adapted to he engaged by a gear strip of the type shown in FIG. 2. when pushed therepast as guided by a U- shaped guide 55. Thus when the gear strip is rapidly pulled through the opening defined by the U-shaped guide 55. gear 456 is rapidly rotated. rotating shaft 44 and the inertia wheel 19 in housing 41 which maintains wheel 45 in rotation while the wheel 54 of vehicle SI is disposed in engagement with wheel 45 permitting rotation to be imparted to the shaft 52 rotating wheels 53 therewith. The vehicle supporting wheels 53 are preferably located such that the periphery of the vehicles inertia wheel 54 may engage wheel 45 while wheels 53 are disengaged from the upper surface of the playing board so that the vehicle mounted wheel 54 may he held against wheel 45 to impart rotational energy from wheel 45 to wheel 54. Thus when the vehicle is pushed across that portion of the playing hoard containing wheel 45. its wheels 53 may be rapidly rotated so that when they are thereafter lowered onto the upper surface of the playing board beyond wheel 45. they will cause the vehicle to be inertially driven across the playing board until the inertia energy imparted to wheel 54 is dissipated.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the apparatus 40 of FIG. 5 wherein another type of vehicle 60 is shown aligned above the opening 50 through which wheel 45 peripherally protrudes and vehicle 60 has a body 61 with a shaft 62 extending laterally between the sidewalls of body 6l and supported for rotation on said body. Centrally secured to shaft 62 is an inertia wheel 63, constructed as described. which is of such a diameter and so located that its lower periphery engages the ground or surface along which the toy 60 is to be driven wherein said wheel 63 affects driving of the vehicle body 6] by engaging the surface on which it travels. Notation 64 refers to respective side appendages or wheels which may or may not be rotatable on or with shaft 62 but which may serve to merely support the body of the vehicle above the surface on which the vehicle travels as driven by the inertia wheel 63.

In operation of the arrangement of FIG. 6. the vehicle 60 is manually held and positioned such that the inertia wheel 63 therein is in alignment with the inertia wheel 63 which is rotatably supported within the vehicle. When the wheels 63 and 45 are in frictional engagement with each other. a condition which may be attained by manually locating and holding the vehicle above the opening 50 in the track or playing surface 48 as in FIG. 5, rotational energy imparted to shaft 44 by the means described in FIG. 5. may be employed to rapidly rotate wheel 63 of the vehicle such that. when the vehicle is placed on the surface immediately thereafter. inertia wheel 63 may be engaged with said surface and may rapidly accelerate and drive the vehicle therealong. Guides similar to guides 49 of FIG. 5 or recesses for members 64 of the vehicle 60. may be employed to retain the vehicle in alignment with wheel 45 so that the inertia wheel 63 ofthe vehicle engages same while shaft 44 is accelerated as described.

I claim:

I. A vehicle toy comprising in combination:

a housing having a base for supporting said housing upright on a surface.

a rotatable assembly including a first inertia wheel rotationally supported within said housing. a portion of said rotatable assembly being exposed to the exterior of said housing and including an output driving surface which rotates with the rotation of said assembly,

a toy vehicle having a vehicle body portion and input drive means for said vehicle including a second inertia wheel supported for rotation by said vehicle body.

said second inertia wheel being operable. when inertially rotating. to drive said toy vehicle across a surface.

input drive means for said second inertia wheel.

said housing and said vehicle toy being configured to permit said vehicle to be disposed close to said housing and said output driving surface of said rotatable assembly to be coupled to said input drive means of said vehicle. and

means for power rotating said rotatable assembly within said housing to a high speed for effecting. when coupling is bad between said rotatable assembly and said input drive means of said vehicle. the acceleration of said second inertia wheel to a high speed whereby. upon uncoupling of said output driving surface and said input drive means of said vehicle. said vehicle may be powered by the inertial energy of said second inertia wheel and may be driven away from said housing thereby.

2. A toy arrangement in accordance with claim I wherein said toy vehicle comprises a body and said second inertia wheel of said vehicle is rotationally supported within said body and protrudes downwardly therefrom to engage the surface on which said vehicle travels whereby. when said second inertia wheel is disengaged from said first inertia wheel supported by said housing after said second inertia wheel has been accelerated. and the vehicle is placed on a surface. said second inertia wheel will drive said vehicle across said surface as it decelerates but continues to inertially rotate.

3. A toy arrangement in accordance with claim I wherein said toy vehicle comprises a vehicle body including wheel means comprising an assembly having a shaft. a pair of spaced-apart wheels supported on said shaft for rotation with respect to said body for driving said vehicle across a surface. said second inertia wheel being secured to said shaft for rotating same and the wheels supported thereby to permit driving movement of the vehicle across a surface.

4. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim I including guide means associated with said housing for guiding and predeterminately locating said body of said toy vehicle with respect to said housing to substantially align said second inertia wheel of said toy vehicle with said output driving surface of said rotatable assembly supported by said housing to permit the two to make contact with each other when said vehicle is guided by said guide means in movement towards said housing and to permit the rotational energy of said first inertia wheel to be imparted to accelerate said second inertia wheel of said vehicle.

5. A vehicle toy comprising in combination:

a housing having a base for supporting said housing upright on a surface.

a rotatable assembly rotationally supported within said housing and including a shaft and a drive wheel supported by said shaft.

means for rotating said drive wheel at high speed.

said drive wheel being exposed to the exterior of said housing.

a toy vehicle having a vehicle body portion and means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface.

drive means for said vehicle supported for rotation by said vehicle body portion.

said vehicle drive means including a wheel shaft extending lateral to the longitudinal axis of the toy vehicle and supported for rotation by said vehicle body portion.

an inertia wheel centrally disposed between said lateral supporting means of said vehicle and having a cylindrical peripheral surface defining an input drive means therefor which surface is exposed at the bottom of said vehicle.

said inertia wheel being operable. when rotated. to

drive said vehicle across a surface.

said housing and the body of said vehicle toy being configured whereby said vehicle toy may be disposed close to said housing and said drive wheel may be releasably coupled to engage the peripheral surface of said inertia wheel and to drive and accelerate said inertia wheel when said drive wheel is rotating. and

means supported by said housing for power rotating said drive wheel at high speed to effect the driving acceleration of said inertia wheel when coupled to the periphery of said inertia wheel whereby. upon the uncoupling of said drive wheel and said inertia wheel. said vehicle will be power driven by said inertia wheel away from said housing.

6. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 5 including guide means associated with said housing for guiding and predeterminately locating the body of said toy vehicle with respect to said housing to substantially align said inertia wheel of said toy vehicle with said drive wheel supported by said housing and to permit both to make contact with each other when said vehicle is guided by said guide means in movement towards said housing.

7. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle upright on a surface comprises respective surface contacting elements protruding downwardly from said body por tion of said vehicle at both sides of said inertia wheel.

8. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface includes respective vehicle wheels disposed at both sides of said inertia wheel and a common shaft supporting said inertia wheel and said wheels to rotate together on said vehicle body.

9. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface comprises respective por tions of said vehicle body which protrude downwardly therefrom at the left and right sides of said vehicle body. said inertia wheel being rotatably supported within said vehicle body substantially midway between said portions of said vehicle body which protrude downwardly therefrom at the left and right sides thereof. 

1. A vehicle toy comprising in combination: a housing having a base for supporting said housing upright on a surface, a rotatable assembly including a first inertia wheel rotationally supported within said housing, a portion of said rotatable assembly being exposed to the exterior of said housing and including an output driving surface which rotates with the rotation of said assembly, a toy vehicle having a vehicle body portion and input drive means for said vehicle including a second inertia wheel supported for rotation by said vehicle body, said second inertia wheel being operable, when inertially rotating, to drive said toy vehicle across a surface, input drive means for said second inertia wheel, said housing and said vehicle toy being configured to permit said vehicle to be disposed close to said housing and said output driving surface of said rotatable assembly to be coupled to said input drive means of said vehicle, and means for power rotating said rotatable assembly within said housing to a high speed for effecting, when coupling is had between said rotatable assembly and said input drive means of said vehicle, the acceleration of said second inertia wheel to a high speed whereby, upon uncoupling of said output driving surface and said input drive means of said vehicle, said vehicle may be powered by the inertial energy of said second inertia wheel and may be driven away from said housing thereby.
 2. A toy arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle comprises a body and said second inertia wheel of said vehicle is rotationally supported within said body and protrudes downwardly therefrom to engage the surface on which said vehicle travels whereby, when said second inertia wheel is disengaged from said first inertia wheel supported by said housing after said second inertia wheel has been accelerated, and the vehicle is placed on a surface, said second inertia wheel will drive said vehicle across said surface as it decelerates but continues to inertially rotate.
 3. A toy arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy vehicle comprises a vehicle body including wheel means comprising an assembly having a shaft, a pair of spaced-apart wheels supported on said shaft for rotation with respect to said body for driving said vehicle across a surface, said second inertia wheel being secured to said shaft for rotating same and the wheels supported thereby to permit driving movement of the vehicle across a surface.
 4. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 1 including guide means associated with said housing for guiding and predeterminately locating said body of said toy vehicle with respect to said housing to substantially align said second inertia wheel of said toy vehicle with said output driving surface of said rotatable assembly supported by said housing to permit the two to make contact with each other when said vehicle is guided by said guide means in movement towards said housing and to permit the rotational energy of said first inertia wheel to be imparted to accelerate said second inertia wheel of said vehicle.
 5. A vehicle toy comprising in combination: a housing having a base for supporting said housing upright on a surface, a rotatable assembly rotationally supported within said housing and including a shaft and a drive wheel supported by said shaft, means for rotating said drive wheel at high speed, said drive wheel being exposed to the exterior of said housing, a toy vehicle having a vehicle body portion and means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface, drive means for said vehicle supported for rotation by said vehicle body portion, said vehicle drive means including a wheel shaft extending lateral to the longitudinal axis of the toy vehicle and supported for rotation by said vehicle body portion, an inertia wheel centrally disposed between said lateral supporting means of said vehicle and having a cylindrical peripheral surface defining an input drive means therefor which surface is exposed at the bottom of said vehicle, said inertia wheel being operable, when rotated, to drive said vehicle across a surface, said housing and the body of said vehicle toy being configured whereby said vehicle toy may be disposed close to said housing and said drive wheel may be releasably coupled to engage the peripheral surface of said inertia wheel and to drive and accelerate said inertia wheel when said drive wheel is rotating, and means supported by said housing for power rotating said drive wheel at high speed to effect the driving acceleration of said inertia wheel when coupled to the periphery of said inertia wheel whereby, upon the uncoupling of said drive wheel and said inertia wheel, said vehicle will be power driven by said inertia wheel away from said housing.
 6. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 5 including guide means associated with said housing for guiding and predeterminately locating the body of said toy vehicle with respect to said housing to substantially align said inertia wheel of said toy vehicle with said drive wheel supported by said housing and to permit both to make contact with each other when said vehicle is guided by said guide means in movement towards said housing.
 7. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle upright on a surface comprises respective surface contacting elements protruding downwardly from said body portion of said vehicle at both sides of said inertia wheel.
 8. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface includes respective vehicle wheels disposed at both sides of said inertia wheel and a common shaft supporting said inertia wheel and said wheels to rotate together on said vehicle body.
 9. A vehicle toy in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for laterally supporting said vehicle body portion upright on a surface comprises respective portions of said vehicle body which protrude downwardly therefrom at the left and right sides of said vehicle body, said inertia wheel being rotatably supported within said vehicle body substantially midway between said portions of said vehicle body which protrude downwardly therefrom at the left and right sides thereof. 